From gold ETFs to the Gold Monetisation Plan we bet you didn’t know that gold investments can be tailor made for any kind of budget. Here’s everything you need to know.

why gold bars

If you're looking for a long-term investment in gold, you can consider gold bars. This, of course, is considering the fact that you are looking to invest more money as well. In the Indian context, gold bars are rectangular pieces of gold, sometimes also referred to as gold biscuits, and are mainly purchased as a savings tool. Gold bars are purchased for auspicious reasons; to celebrate festivals, for gifting purposes or on special occasions like anniversaries and for weddings. The demand varies with season, and auspicious days such as Dhanteras, Diwali and Akshaya Tritiya see a spike in the sale of gold bars.

how does it work

Lower making charges and premium:

It makes sense to invest in one gold bar because bars come with a lower premium attached to them. The premium you pay usually includes making charges and sometimes also includes transportation and refining costs. Since bars are much larger in size, economies of scale come into play, ensuring that you get your money's worth.

Weight:

Gold bars come in weights starting from as little as 0.5g and go up to 1 kg, with 5g, 8g and 10g bars being popular choices with most people. It is essential to weigh factors such as your budget, investment and liquidity goals before you make your decision. Bars of a higher weight are cheaper to purchase, but lighter ones are easier to liquidate on short notice.

Purity:

Purity is of key importance if you are purchasing gold bars for investment purposes. Try purchasing only those bars that are hallmarked or LBMA certified. This ensures that you are getting your money's worth, and places you in a better position when you are looking to sell your gold bar. Also, you must insist on a purity certificate at the time of purchase.

Storing gold bars:

Since gold bars have a higher worth as compared to coins, and aren't possible to liquidate immediately, they are difficult to store at home, making alternatives such as lockers a safer option. However, if you wish to store them in a locker at home or the bank and don't have one already, factor in an additional cost for the same.

Purchase:

Just like with gold coins, it is worth your time and money to visit a few reliable retailers before you make your purchase to ensure that you're paying the least amount of premium possible. This is all the more important with gold bars because the amount you invest is significantly higher and even a difference of 1–2% can translate into substantial savings for you.Is it for me?

Negligible making charges.

There are also those who purchase gold bars for their family's financial security, with the intention of eventually converting bars into jewellery or liquidating them when an emergency arises.

If you are looking for a long term investment and want to put it in physical gold then this tool is a practical decision.

Easy to liquidate and ease of selling make it an exciting proposition for all kinds of investors.

Easy to liquidate and ease of selling make it an exciting proposition for all kinds of investors.

Remember that lower ticket sizes may be easier to sell while a larger ticket size assures minimum wastage – depending on your investment goal, you can make a decision.